December 18, 2012

Rocking Horse Land

Hi sweet friends. I have something very lovely to show you today. A book full of magic and toys and dollies and fairies, and all the things that should be in childhood. And the illustrations...if you blew them up and had them framed on your kiddo's wall, everyone would think 'What a marvelous painting!' The art is More Than Art. Do you know what I mean? The kind of art that looks like it came straight out of some enchanted realm.

I've been saving 'Rocking Horse Land and other Classic Tales of Dolls and Toys' (compiled by Naomi Lewis and illustrated by Angela Barrett) for a good six months for Julia. As amazing as it is, I think I might hold onto it hidden away for another 6 months because I really really want her to appreciate it and be ready for it. Depending on your kiddo, a 6 year old would enjoy it, and all the way on up to age 10-11. The 'Baba Yaga' story and the 'Rag Bag' story certainly would appeal to younger readers, while 'Memoirs of a London Doll' and 'The Town in the Library' (written by British great E. Nesbit) are best suited for ages 7 and up.

Do you guys love Baba Yaga? I was kind of obsessed with her when I was young. Something about her house, walking around on chicken legs, while Baba Yaga flies around in her mortar and pestle bowl. She's a fixture in a great many Russian fairy tales.

The six stories in the book (including 'The Steadfast Tin Soldier') are all winners. This is a treasure book, a magical book, a give-to-someone-special-book.

I personally love the idea of dolls coming alive and Doing Interesting Things. That idea always intrigued me as a little girl, and it still does, to be truthful.

Eek! This looks AMAZING! How gorgeous! I just read a Baga Yaga picture book to the girls for the first time a couple weeks ago, and I've read lots of Andersen to Big Sis (even the saddest ones). These illustrations!!!

You would FLIP over this book, D. We read a Baba Yaga book where she is really sweet, a nice old lady who really wants to be a grandma, but everyone is afraid of her, until she saves a little village boy and becomes his surrogate grandmother. It was very cute.

soo...I didnt even finish reading your post before I threw that book in my amazon book cart and bought myself a used copy. It is stunning! What gorgeous art, and what fascinating sounding stories! Thanks so much for sharing this!~! gorgeousness :)

I am sold on the fantastic title already! The illustrations do look amazing. How sad that it is not available for purchase on Amazon :( I will try to look at other bookstores!

Baba Yaga scared me so much when I was young. She scares my boy too ... just like the witch in Hansel and Gretel by the way. But have you seen Russian Fairy Tales Movies? The ones made by the USSR back in the days? They really made good ones and their Baba Yaga are really scary!

Miss Cherie, it IS available both new and used on Amazon, via independent booksellers. But not available through the Amazon Prime.

I have not seen those movies, but they sound AMAZING, I would be totally into that, I like scary fairytales. I was very drawn to things that scared me when I was young, so Baba Yaga was both so intriguing and scary to me!

I was a total Baba Yaga fan! I still have a bit of a Russia obsession. I'm always on the lookout for a samovar. Paul and I have plans to go visit Russia someday. I keep hoping they'll get the whole free-society thing down. I don't like the idea of being thrown in jail for saying the wrong thing! I guess I'm not one to judge, though, when we have places like Guantanamo... eek

Meet Melissa

I'm the creator of Julia's Bookbag and Julia's Book Boxes. Ask me about ordering the current book surprise box! Vintage, current, and unique book finds are my passion, along with treats, teas, and all things cozy.